Centrifugal machine



(No Model.) `2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. W'. LAFIERTY. GENTRIFUGAL MACHINE.

No. 474,389. Patented May 10, V1892.

IN VEN TOR w. S m N T I W (No Model.)

WITNESSES 2 sheets-sheer 2.I

HL W. LAFPERTY. GENTRIPUGAL MACHINE.

Patented May l0, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUGH lV. LAFFERTY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

CENTRIFUGAL IVIACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 474,389, dated May 10, 1892.

Application iled March 3, 1891. Serial No. 383,594. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, HUGH lV. LAFFERTY, of W'ilmington, in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Centrifugal Draining-Machines, of which improvement the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to centrifugal draining-machines of the class known as standing machines-that is to say, those in which the drum and spindle are supported and rotate upon a lower step or bearing; and its object is to provide simple and efficient means by which gyration of the rotating members will be permitted without jars or shocks due to unequal loading of the basket, and the cost, complication, and liability to breakage of the bolts and link connections heretofore einployed for the purpose will be avoided.

To this end my invention consists in certain novel devices and combinations, hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical central section through a centrifugal draining-machine embodying my invention at the line e ,e of Fig. 2; Fig. 2, a horizontal section through the saine at the line .fr 0c of Fig. 1; Figs. 3, 4, and 5, plan, side, and inner end views, respectively, of one of the face-plates detached; and Fig. G, a plan or top view of the step-carrier.

My improvement is herein illustrated as ap-v plied in a centrifugal draining-machine, the general structural features of which accord with that set forth in Letters Patent of the United States No. 304,942, granted and issued to me under date of September 9, 1884. My invention has, however, no necessary relation to or dependence upon such patented construction, the same being selected merely for convenience and clearness of illustration and being one of the several forms of standing machines known in the art for application to which my improvement has been devised.

The outer casing 1 of the machine shown in the drawings is of the usual cylindrical form, and is connected at bottom to an annular lower sectionor bed 2,in which is formed a downwardly-projecting spout or dischargenozzle 3, and which is supported on legs or standards 4, by which the machine may be secured to a suitable floor or foundation, and

which, with the bed 2, form the frame of the machine. The drum or basket 5 is secured at its upper side to a cap-plate 6, and at its lower side to a bottom plate 7, having a central cylindrical hub 8, at the base of which are formed discharge-openings 16, controlled by a valve or cap 17, fitting around the hub and over said openings.

Thehub" 8 is secured upon the upper end of a vertical spindle 9, which passes, with the capacity of free rotation, through a gland or bushing 10, connected to the central hub or boss of an upper-bearing frame 11, having an annular rim connected by radial arms to said central hub. The lower end of the spindle 9 fits truly in and rests upon a step or lower bearing 42, the upper portion of which is on its outer surface in the form ot' a section of a sphere, and is supportedl on correspondingly faced lugs or bearings 44 on the upper end ot' a supportingblock or carrier 43, in order to admit of the gyratory movement of the spindle 9 and connected drum or basket 5. The carrier ts and is vertically movablein a box or casing 13, fixed to a plate 14, which is connected to the standards of the machine, and the carrier, together with the-step 42 and the spindle and drum supported thereon, are adapted to be raised and lowered by a transverse bar 12 and suitable connections, in order to separate or bring into contact, respectively, braking-shoes 15 on the bottom plate 7 of the drum and friction-blocks 18 on the bed-section 2, as heretofore practiced for releasing and for retarding the drum.

For the purpose of maintaining the step and carrier in normal vertical relation and preventing their separation in being raised and lowered, the step 42 is provided with circumferential projections 42, which iit under the lower sides of the bearings 44 of the carrier 43, the projections 42:L being inserted in the openings between the bearings and the step being then turned, so as to bring them below the bearings, which then lit between the spherical bearing-face of the step andthe projections thereon, thus preventing relative displacement of the step and carrier in their vertical movements.

The elastic resistance requisite to control and equalize the gyratory movements of the spindle and drum about the center of the ICO spherical bearing of the step 42 is provided by a series of springs interposed between the upper-bearing frame 1l and the bed-section 2 of the main frame of the machine. These springs are formed of rubber blocks 45, each of which fits on a pin or projection 5l on the rim of the frame 1l and on a seat on said rim and projects into a recess or pocket 52 on the inner side of the bed-section 2. The blocks 45 bear on the bed section 2 through adjustable face-plates 47, each of which abuts against the outer face of a block and is provided with a projection 49, fitting in said block, and on its opposite side with a screw-stem 4S, passing through the outer wall of the pocket 52 of the block and having nuts` on opposite sides of said wall, bythe adjustmentof which nuts compression to a greater or less degree may be imposed upon the block or the block relieved therefrom, as desired. By this construction the frame 11, which gyrates with vthe spindle and drum, is adapted to bear uniformly around its center upon the main frame ofthe machine, and the uniform circumferential resistance to gyration which is thereby exerted counteracts the tendency to jars and shocks which results from unequal distribution of the charge in the drum, and insures the smooth and easy running of the machine. It will also be seen that the construction possesses material advantages in point of simplicity and strength relatively to those heretofore employed in which the upper bearing is coupled by link-and-pin and bolt connections to springs fixed on the frame.

The upper-bearing frame ll slides ou rubber blocks 46, fixed on the bed-section 2, and carries a chute or discharge-spout 2O for the delivery of material discharged from the lower openings 16 of the drum. The chute 2O is formed integral with a sleeve 21, which incloses the spindle 9 and fits at its upper end in a recess in the bottom of the bearing-frame and at its lower end in a recess in the top of a driving-pulley 29,secured upon the spindle 9 adjacent to the step 42, said pulley carrying a driving-belt 28, which passes around guide-pulleys 30,journaled on the frame, and transmits power f'roma suitable prime mover for the rotation of the spindle and drum.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In a centrifugal draining-machine, the combination of a spindle, a drum or basket fixed thereon, a step or bearing supporting the arms to said hub,a series of rubber blocks,

each supported on and abutting against the outer rim of the bearing-frame, and a series of bearing-faces, each fitting against one of said blocks and provided with a stem connected to the adjacent portion of the main frame of the machine, substantially as set forth.

3. In a centrifugal draining-machine, the combination of a spindle, a drum or basket fixed thereon, a step or bearing supporting the lower end of the spindle, an upper-bearing frame inclosing the spindle, a series of rubber blocks supported circumferentially on said bearing-frame, a main frame having a series of recesses or pockets, each adapted to admit the outer end of one of said blocks, a series of bearing-faces, each fitting against the outer end of one of said'blocks and provided with a screw-stem passing through the outer wall of the adjacent pocket, and nuts engaging said stems on opposite sides of said walls, substantially as set forth.

4. In a centrifugal draining-machine, the combination of a spindle, a drum or basket fixed thereon, an upper-bearing frame inclosing the spindle, springs interposed between said frame and faces on the main frame of the machine, a lower step or bearing supporting said spindle and havinga spherical outer face adjoining its top, and a series of circumferential projections below said spherical face, and a vertically-movable supporting block or carrier having a series of bearing-faces corresponding with the spherical face of the step and separated by openings for the passage of the circumferential projections of said step, substantially as set forth.

HUGH WV. LAFFERTY. lVitnesses:

J AMES M oNAcHAN, CHAs. A. FOSTER.

ICO 

